Circular-knitting machine.



F. WILGOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26,1913.

1,086,968,4 l Patented Feb. 10, 1914.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

F. WILCOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rILED Jrmnze,1913,

1,086,968. Patented Feb.10, 1914n .y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. WILCOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNBzs,191s.

1,086,968. Patented Feb.1o,1914

5 SHEETS-SHEET 8,

F. WILCOMB.

CIRCULAR yKNITTING MACHINE,

APPLmATIoN FILED JUmzze` m13.

1,086,968, Patented Feb. 10, 1914 SSHEETS-SHHBT 4.

F. WILCOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE2G-1913 1,086,968. Patented Feb. 1o, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'entran `srs.rp-s Parana orales.

FRANK WILGQMB, or Paw'rnoxpr, mona cIacULaaxNrr'rrno pagina i Specification et Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914;.

Original application led October 2, 1912, Serial No. 7239522. Divided and this application le'd June 26,4

u 1913. Serial No. 775,883.

To allfwhom itr may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK WipooM, citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the lfollowing' is a specification.

The subject matter herein disclosed is a division of that contained in my application for Letters 'Patent of the United States .#723,522, of AOctober 2, 1912, and concerns particularly sinker and web-holdermechanism, and'associa'ted devices, and the in:

vention consists in the features and combif "nation and arrangement ot parts herein;-

needle evener and the supportingarm for said parts, the view being of the opposite side to that `shown in Fig. 2; Fig. l bis a detail View; Fig. 5 is a vertical section lookving from the right of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view ot the thread cutter, thread clamp, needle evener and their supporting arm; Fig. 7 is a. plan View 0f the knitting head; Fig. 8 is a sectional view substantially on the radial line 16 of Fig. 7 through the presser wheel and associated parts; Fig. 9 is a view of my improved sinker; Fig. 10 is a sectional View of my improved sinker bed; Fig. 11 is a view ofa web holder; Fig. 12 is a View of a different form of sinker in place in its bed.

My machine in the form chosento iliustrate my invention includes as knitting elements independently operated spring needles l, independently operated sinkers 2, to feed the yarn to the needles, independently operated sliding web holders 3, which hold the fabric from being carried up when the needles are elevated to take the thread,

and which also assist in casting off old loops, and pressers 4-4 for pressing the needle beards.

./Ywsscr ymec.7a.(mism.The presser wheels 4-4f are set with relation to the needles and sinkers, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and at this point the snkezs are always proinwardly between the needles far enoughfto sink'the required vamount 'of yarn which is always suiiicient to allow the lower nose to be inside the needle row allowing the presser to roll on the needles behind this nose as in Fig` 8.

The .pressers 4, 4', comprise preferably .wheels which are vadjusted by their-rods,

screw threaded at' their ends, and engaged by jam nuts c, springs` under adjustment .of nuts k forcing the -pressers inwardly to exert a yielding contact with the needles.

m, turning in a bushing m', mounted in the' block o and held by a set screw'n, while the lower wheel has a bushing fixed thereto and mounted to turn in abracket p extending from another adjusting ro'd g, which has a spring and adjusting nutl for adjustment like that above described. These two presser wheels are mounted one above the other but tlieir'supporting and adjusting means are arranged side by side in the sameplane and in a bracket r, attached to the sinker ring. The bushing o is of large enough Ainternal diameter to allow onepressea wheel to be adjusted in relation tothe other so that the notches in one wheel maybe exposed 'for tucking Vasis well understood by knitters.

In theA present instance I have shown thelower presser wheel asnotched. v

I have shown two pressers disposed at different points about the needle circle for reciprocating work, one being effective on one stroke and the other on the other stroke of the cylinder. In plain circular work of course only one presser would be eii'eotive,

for instance the needles would miss thev front presser because the call jacks do notv throw the needles up high enough` on the rising side of the advancipg cams to bring theminto contact with the presser, but having been lifted by the advancing cam to be moved down by `the draw cam they will traverse a path to have theirbeardspressed by the presser.

' Thread carriersre'lhe thread carriers are shown at 94, Figs. 5 and 7 there being a i number of these for 'introduca kinds of thread, `as will be hereinafter described. These carriers consist of arms vdifferent having openings or eyes at their ends for the passage of the threads, and each arm is 'pivotally mounted at 95 on-the sinker cam ring 72 so ,thattit may be raised and vlowered .to `remove orintroduee its-thread, and for this purpose the tails of thel thread carriers are 1n line vertically with' levers 96 pivoted to a housing 97, these-levers in turn being operated b y levers 98 also pivoted to the housing and operated -through wires 98, Figs. l and 5, running to the Apattern mechamsmv like the wires f* of the Hemphill sliding sinker of ordinary, lormf-oulc'l notbe employed on the outside of the needle'row in' conjunction with a presser Y device located wholly outside of; the needle'row because the bed for an yprdinaryf sinker wouldjoc'cupy all the space necessary "forzthepresserffdevice, I have therefore devised n forni ofvs'inker'and a form and Varra'ngellnent"ofthe'Sinker bed' by which the sinkerbed can belocated above the placeusuallyioccupied Y'by a'. sinker bed and `thus leave'spaoezmwhich thejpresser device maybe located.. t

My improvedsinker comprises a stem a",` Figs. 2, 5, 8.v and '9,' having a shankor Shanks I b* to engage thesinker cams above'describedd forwardly from the V.stem and termiuating'ln and an arm [cextendi'n'g downwardly a d a nose ofsubstantially Agortli'nary .cx'nistruc-4 tion. The stemfbeingelevated in respectto the work Iend or arm-,ofthe sinkerenables me to employ a' sinker bedlwhichl i's elevated abovethe plane' usually occupied by "it, and

this leaves vspace fory the ressers t4 or 4'? which may thusfbe'arrang .improper relation to the needles, s'inkersandweb'holders, namely in a vplane .between fthe y sinkers and web holders and on the outside of the needle row. The. sinker. bed is .of improved construction bein gnooved 'inlitsjupner yside Fig. 10 fortestem oftliel sin er yand, grooved at d* in its lower sidegfor ne work arm or lower nose carrying extension, with av vertical'opening at e* 1n llnewitlrtne upper and nlower grooves through which the de pending arms of thesinkers extend.

'lne upper grooves of the sinker bed lying ina circle of large diameter in respect to the needle circle provide outlying portions having thick walls between'the grooves Vfor tinuation o the upper groove.

jthe sinker bed to hold the work lpresser and the needles.

guiding the stems of the sinkers, and sustaining lateral thrust, while the lower slots being nearer the needle circle than the outlying portions have thin walls but these are sufliciently strong for 4guiding the lower armsof the sinkers which are not subjected to the lateral thrust of the cams. The Shanks of the sinker stems for engagement with the cams being at the outer ends of the sinkers lo-W angle cams can be used. The Sinker in its best form will have its stem projecting forward ofthe depending arm and runnin in a groove It forming a con- This extension will prevent the sinker from tipping ,downwardly at its work or nose end while upward tipping will be prevented by the lower arm of the sinker bearing up against the under side of the sinker bed. This form of sinker bed provides for keeping oil, lint or other matter from assin from the sinker Acams and grooves o the sinker bed to the fabric.

The removal and insertion of the sinkers is easily ei'ected by raising the rear shank .portion and drawing it upward and outward from the machine.

' As a modification of the sinker I may, as shown inFig. 12, form it in two parts, an

'upper stem portion a and a lower work port-ion, these being connected together by an arm or nib o" on the upper stem portion fitting in a 'notch in the lower work portion.

In -t-h1s case I would use a plate s xed under portions of thelsinkers in the grooves. v y' The arrangement of the presser device outside the needle lrow in a stocking machine, as abovestated, leaves the central portion of lemachine free for the arrangement of the t read cutter and clamp, but furthermore an insider resser would be o en to objections u ther t an that of occupying the center of t e machine necessary for the location of the other,` devices. For instance, in making a heep'ocket, at which time the fabric gathers up, or incase the fabric-for an reason gathersup, as in the case of a de ective needle,

an insidepresser would be liable to be forced away fromy the needle and not perform its function. vIn my arrangement with the presser outside the needle row this objection is avoided. The presser wheel being located under the sliding sinkers, as above described, andthe sinkers being `always Yadvanced at vthe point where the sinking. talfszs place,.the said sinkers serve aseJ guard to prevent anything coming between the Y groove extends circumfercntially of the ring,

and it is open throughout, having no radial 'grooves for these lower extensions. The up, s

' per side of' this groove is ground and affor this torni of web holder and ring the upperV ...iced end 11'( a bearing to hold the web holders against tipping. The upper work' end or extension e, of the web holder runs in radial grooves at the top of the ringbut these grooves are shallow, affording rigidity toy the guiding walls land. making the construction comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. By

werkend is bottomed in the upper grooves while the lower extension slides on the plain side of the circumferential groove, tirndy4 and accurately guiding the web The web holder bed yw is clamped by U, Figs. :2 and 11, tothe cylinder, the web holder cam ring 110 which and supported by the bed, is held cireninterential displacement by adg screws 111 passing-through ears 112 nr. t ring and bearing'upon the sides ofthe irma standard 101.

, fifi/nf] sinker organization-The sinker can: ring 7? composed of upper and lower screwed together, between which inner hed is located. This sinker bed gear `teeth 115 into which medies the t fear 116 Fig. i2, clamped on the Vreot' the vertical shaft 118, which carries a gear 119 at its lower end meshing with the gear 8' on the needle cylinder. he sinker supporting ring 72 is carried or supported by abracket 120 turnable on the upper end of the standard 121 which extends up from the base of the machine and through which standard the vertical 'shaft 11S extends. This bracket is also movable vertically and itcarries the shaft with it because the flange 122 forming part of the split clamp 123, which holds the gearing to \e shaft, is pinned to the said shaft. Belsw the bracket a. yoke or collar 124 is located connected by a. link 125 with an eccentiic or crank 126 on a shaft or pin 127 journaled in the standard and operated by a handle 128. lVhen this handle is turned down from the )osition shown in Fig. 2, the yoke will be. li. ed to .raise the bracket, t0- getherwith the sinker ring, supported there by, to the position indicated in dotted lines .it an', Fi il, and then the sinker ring, together with all the parts carried thereby, muy be swung aside in the direction of the arrnw y, Fig. 7, this turning movement being. about the axis of the shaft 118 as a enter. This will enable access to be had to he cylinder. needles, web holders and their cams. At all times the ear connection between the cylinder and t e sinker organizatisfn will be maintained so that these will be operan-ed in unison. The yoke 124 is kept irren turning by a spring pin 129 mounted n. the standard 19.1, the spring 130 being housed in the hollow pin and bearing et its lower end upon the block 131 supported on a pin 132 xed in the standard. Theupper end of the spring pin'ts between the ears of the yoke as shown. A dowel pin 133 aids in centering the yoke. In swinging the sinker organization back to working position it is arrested by a stop 134 fixed to the standard or post 101, which is engaged by a projection 135 on the sinker ring. When so arrested the sinker ring has a notch registering with the stop or registering pin 137 and thus b lowering the sinker ring the notch thereo will be engaged b the pin 137 and the sinker ring will e he d centrally in respect to the axis of the needle cylinder and web-holder organization.

It will be observed that the lower part of the sinker ring encircles the web holder organization fitting closely, when lowered to Working position about the cam ring 110 of the web holders. This centralizes the upper end of the cylinder and the web holder organization and furnishes lateral support tor these parts and insures the true running of the needle cylinder. In the case of a small diameter machine and a tall cylinder very small variations in the bearing at the base of the cylinder will be multiplied at the top of the cylinder resulting in a wabl'iling motion at this point and uneven knitting ii no provision Were made to avoid this. iith the sinker organization arranged and supported by the standards 101 and 121` and closely surrounding the parts at the top of the revolving cylii'nfler the latter will be made to run true.

Thread eviter, 2/1mg), und needle crcncr. As is customary in stocking machines which make the heel and toe, l provide on the inside of the needle row a thread cutter and a thread clamp. Referring to Figs. 2. 3, 5 and 7, this cutter includes a fixed blade 138 and a movable blade 139 both mounted on a bracket 140 which pivoted on a standard 141 fixed to the sinker ring. The movable blade is pivoted at 1.3/1 and is operated through a rod 1115i, connected to a disk 144 pivotally mounted on the standard at 145, the arm 146 of said disk being operated by a rod 147 engaging therewith at a point in line with the axis about which the sinker ring is turnable. The supporting bracket. may be turned upwardly about its pivot 145 to remove thc same from over the needle cylinder and thusr remove the parts carried thereby from within the sinker ring. This bracket also carries the clamp for the loose ends of the threads severed by the cutter, this clamp comprising al rigid clamping member 150, Fig. 3, and a movable clamping member 1517 the latter being of grating form, `Fig. 6, and being arranged below the fixed solid member toshed dust, lint, &c., which might otherwise interfere with the clamping members comingV close together.

The thread is guided to the clamping incur bers by a guide or guard kplate 152. The movable clamping member is carried by a block 133, Figs. 3, i and 5, on the shaft '154 to which the movable cutter blade is fixed, said block being turned by a pin 155, Fig. (l, on the shaft engaging the block, provision for slight lost motion being made between the pin and the surface ot' the block with which it contacts. The movable clamping member is held up by a spring 15G. Now, when the movable cutter blade is lowered to receive the thread between it and the fixed cutter blade, the movable clamping member will be lowered to receive the thread between it and the upper fixed member, the. thread being guided in between these parts by the guide 152. The movable cutter blade now rises allowing the clamp to be set first to hold the. thread, and then the cutter continuing its movement upward will sever the thread, leaving the loose end in the clamp. y

I provide on the inside of the needle row a needle cvcner 157, 3, 5 and 7, to even up any needle which may have been beni, this evencr being operative adjacent; the point at which the yarn is sunk to the needle, as shown in the plan view, Fig.' 7. lt lies slightly below the plane ot' thefsinkers, Fig. 5, andl is carried by an ann 158 pivotally mounted at 159 to the undside of the supporting bracket. The. arm. Iis bent upwardly and extends over the sinker ring, where it is engaged by a catch at 160 by which it is locked in position, and this arm thereforeacts as a lock to hold the ibracket 14() down in working position with all the arts carried thereby properly located with- 1n the needle circle. To swing the bracket up, the evener carrying arm is turned from under the catch in the arrow direction, Fig. 7, and on swinging the bracket upwardly in the direction of the dotted arrow, Fig. 3, the clamp, cutter and needle evener go up with it, above and to oneside of the needle row, to allow access to the interior of the needle cylinder or to allow the sinker organiza. tion to be shifted aside in getting access to the web holder organization.

In the operation of the clamp and gcutter, when the thread carrier is raised the thread extends from this to the needle last supplied and is carried-around by revolution ofthe needle cylinder and under the guide which directs it between the clamping members. After the thread is severed tie loose end is held by the clamp until again introduced by the thread carrier.

It will be seen from the foregoing descriptionthat the sinker ring supports various devices, the cutter and clamp, needle evener, the thread guides. pressers and part of theconnections for adjusting the sinker cams and when the sinker ring is swung aside all the said parts more therewith and the .act of moving the sinker ringr bach io normal position emablishes the necessary connection for operating the thread cairiers and adjusting il sinlier cams.

I claiu as my invmdion:

l. In combination in a circular spriiig needle knitting nun-bine, a cylinder, inde.Y pendenlly operated needles, sinkers and web holders` outside ther needle row, bod",- in which said suikers .and web hoiilers slide a presser fimiife radially adjustable outside the needle row to engage the needle beards in success-ion :ind arranged between the slid-- inesinli'ersA and web imi-tiers, and means for eliccting rehitiver movement between the needle evlindcr and presser circuniferen` tially ol' the cylinder, substantially de scribed.

2. li combination, spring needles, web holders and .ikers, a presser outside the needle row and between il. inkers and web holders. a bed above the presser, said sinkers havin@ an upper heel, carrying stem sliding in said bed, and a lower yarn sinking portion connected thereto, and cams engaging the heel of the sinkcrs, substantially as describedi 3. A sinker bed for a knitting machine having upper and lower radial guiding slots to receive upper and lower portions of a sinker and with an opening through the bed connecting said upper and lower slots to receive the portion of the sinkerwhich connects said upper and lower portions, substantially as described.

4. In` combination a sinker bed for a knitting machine having upper and lower slots, with an opening through the bed connecting the said upper and lower slots, and a sinker having an upper heel stem slidable' in the upper slot and a lower yarn sinking portion slidable in the lower slot and a connecting portion extending through the said opening, substantially as described.

5. A sliding sinker or thread measurer for sinking the yarn across the stems of the needles. said sinkers having a slidablc cam operated stem, said stem being arranged in a higher plane than the yarn sinking portion which is connected to and operated thereby, wheixby the Sinkel' may be used with a beard presser operating between the plane ot the said yarn sinking portion and the plane of movement of the web holder.

G. In combination, spring needles, web holders and sinkers, a presser between the sinkers and web holders, a bed above the presser slotted in upper and lower planes, Sinkers having stems sliding in the upper slots and nose carryingr arms sliding in the lower slots, substantially as described.

7. In combination, .spring needles, web holders and sinkers, a presser between the accenna sinkers and web holders, abed above 'the presser slotted in, opper and lor/ver planes, sinkers having stems sliding in the ripper slots and nose carrying arms sliding in the lower slots, said arms depending f irorn the intermediate parts of the stems, the front and .rear ends of the stems finding bearings in the bed, substantially dcscriled.

8. Int-combination in a .knitting machine, a rotary cylinder, a sinker supporting elemeut surrounding and centralizing the cyl inder at its upper end. said sinker element being shiftable to and from its norma-l position, surrounding the cylinder by lifting it and moving it. to one side, and means Yfor supporting the sinker element trom the base of the machine, substantially as described,

9. .ln combination in a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, web holders, cams thereforfsinkers. and a sinker supporting' clement movable from position in relation to the web holders and cylinder to expose the web holders, and means for supporting the. sinker element from they base of th e machine,

4suhstantjally as described 16. vln combination in a knitting; machine,

a rotary cylinder, needles, a sinkr organilzation comprising sinkers, a sinker bed. a sinker cam ring, driving means for the cylinder and sinirer bed, a support for the sinker organization connected with the base of the` machine. mea ns for holdingY the sinker organization elevated in relation to the cylinder, said slnker organization being shiftable laterally from normal position by turning it about the axis of its driving means. substantially described.

11. ln combination in a knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder. needles, a sinker organization consisting of a sinker bed and a sinker cam ring, a support extending up from the base connected with the sinlzer organization, said sinker organization being shiftable vertically and laterally from normal position in relation to the cylinder, and driving means for the cylinder and sinler cam ring, maintaining its connection With said parts in all positions of the sinker organization, substantially as described.

12. ln combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary cylinder, needles, a sinker organination 'consis ying of sinkers. a sinker bed, a sinker cam ring, said sinker organization being shiitablcr from normal position in relation to the cylinder. driving means for the cylinder', a vertical shaft, gearing between said shaft and the cylinder, gearing between said shaft and the sinker cam ring, the shifting` movement of thesinker organization taking place about the axis of said shaft, substantially as described.

13. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary cylinder, a sinker organization comprising sinkers, a sinner bed, a

sinltcr cam ri ganization consisting ot sinlters, a sinker bed and a sinlter cam ring, said sinker 0rgarnir/.ation being laterally shiftable away from normal position concentric with the needles, and a needle efener inside the needle row and sliilitable vertically in relation to the needles` am? sinlter organization and supported by the latter, substantially as deA scribed.

In combination in a circular knitting machine. a cylinder, needles, a sinker organization consisting1 oi" sinkers, a sinker bed, a. einher cani ring shiftable laterally in relation to the needle cylinder, a thread clamp and a cutter inside the needlerow and a vertically movable support carrying said clamp and cutter, said support being nnninted :an the tially described.

lo. ln combination in a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, needles, a sinker organization, consisting of sinkers, a snker bed, a sinker cani ringr shiftable by turning itto one side about a center, a thread clamp and cnt-ter Within the needle row supported on the shiftabhle sinker organization, and a connection for operating the cutter and clamp, extending from the center about stantially as described.

17. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, needles, a sinker carrying ring shiftable laterally of the cylinder, and thread carriers supported on the sinker ring, substantially as described.

18. In combination in a knitting machine, a cylinder, needles, sinkers, a sinker ring laterally adjustable to and from the cylinder, thread guides :mounted on the sin'ker ring, connections for operating the thread guide automatically, operative relation be- \tween said thread guides and the said conswinging of the sinker ring to or from nor-l mal position, substantially as described.

19. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, needles, a sinker carrying ring shiftable laterally of the cylinder and a presser for the needle beards supported on the shifting Sinkel' ring,substan tially as described. f 'I 20. In combination in a circular knrttmg sinker cam ring, substan-l which the sinker organization turns, sub-r nections being established `or broken by theV machine, a cylinder, needles, a sinker or machine, a sinker ring shiftable laterally of the cylinder, a yarn severing and clamping means attached to the ring and shiftable therewith, substantially as described.

21. In combination 1n a circular knitting machine, a cylinder, knitting elements, a sinker organization comprising sinkers, a sinker bed and a sinker cam ring, sinker cams, connections for adjusting the sinker cams, said sinker organization being shiftable to and from operative relation with the cylinder and knitting elements and into and out of operative relation with the operating connections for thefsinker cams, substantially as described.

cam ring, said` device engaging the sinker cam ring when the latter is lowered into place, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK VVI-LCOMB.

Witnesses FREDERlC W. ENIWISTLE.

CHARLES M.- Rune'. i. 1 

